Improvement in locks



UNITEiO` STATES PATENTN QF-FICE.` ,e

HENRY R. TYLER, OE NoRwroH, CONNECTICUT, AssieNOR To, HiMsELE AND EUGENE M. rREvOsT, OF SAME PLACE. l i y i n Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49.481,'dated August 15, 1865. l"

To all whom it may concern:

ing a part of the same," is a full, clear, and eX- act description thereof. y

In all the drawings a portion of the plate is represented as cut away in order to exhibit the working parts.

Figures 1 and 2 are side views of the part-s when the lock is arranged to serve the purpose of a bolt, and also to serve as a night-lock to be opened by the aid of a key. Figs. 3 and et` represent the parts arranged so as to constitute the ordinary latch, to be operated by turning the knob, showing the latchin two positions. Fig. 5 is a view of the key-bit.

By my improvement a door-fastening of this' character may be made to subserve the purposes, first, of an Ordinary mortise or other latch; second, ot' a bolt; third, of a-night-lock to be opened by a pass-key.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents one of the plates of an ordinary mortise-lock.

B is a spring-latch, similar in appearance to others in common use, and operated by a tumbler, through which vpasses the spindle, upon each end ot' which are the knobs for the hand. It is, however, made in two parts, C and D, the latch portion C being connected with the other portion, D, by a wire rod, c. There is also a pin, b, at right angles `with the side plate. This rod aJ can slide freely in a corresponding hole made lengthwise in the rear portion, D,the pin bbeing accommodated by a slot, c. The object of the rod a is simply to keep the two portions ot' the latch in line and furnish a support for each,.while that of the pin b is to afford a stop to prevent the rear portion of the latch from being moved too far back in tnrning'the knob when the lock is arranged as a bolt. The coiled spring E, attached to the plate at one end and to the rear portion, D, at the other end, tends to press the portion D constantly forward, so as to abut against the portion C.

It is obvious that so long as the two portions G and D of the latch `are held together by any means as one piece, Figs. 1, 3,`4=,".the`` turning oftheknob will operate the latch in the usual way; but if such connection isbroken, the rear portion, D, will alone be movedby lthe knob, while the latchfportion Cwillrcmain projecting beyond the face-plate by the ten-.4 sion of the at spring d, arranged, asshown, for that purpose. L y I break or restore the connection between l i the two parts ofthe latch, andthus makethe lock serve the purposeof a latch or bolt at pleasure bythe following means: I attach to the rear portion, D, of the latch oneor more y levers or tumblers, c, tted to turn upon apivot, f, the under surface of the rear portion, D, being cut away to accommodate them. `The security of the lock against the `burglars pick y will, as in `all other locks, be increased by the number of these levers, which, at the ends op`` E posite to which they are pivoted,are turned upward in the form of hooks, or provided with .l pieces at right angles to their length, so` as to en-ter notches upon the under sideof the pori f tion G. These levers are constantly being` pressed in a downward direction by'the action ,l l of springs, similar to the manner in which the l l levers ot' locks of Ordinary construction are depressed. Underneath these levers, and so that they will ride upon it, I place an eccentric .l or cam wheel, g, which is attached to a spindle passing through the plate of thelock `andthe stile ot' the door upon, the inside of the room Theendot'thespindleisprovidedwithathumb- 1 piece, (not shown,) so that the wheel can `be turned at will. Whenever that portion ofthe wheel g which is cut away is in the position" shown in Figs. l and 2, the levers will, by th action of their springs, wfall solow that the projecting pieces upon their ends will not en- *I gage with the notches upon the under side off the portion G, and consequently when the door-`` knob is turned therear portion, D,` will alone` be moved. In this position of; the parts the` lock is arranged toact asa bolt.,` "On, the other 3 y hand, it" the wheel gis turned so as tostand in the position shown in Figsr` and 4,the lel t vers will be raised and their ends will enter the notches before mentioned, and the two i. parts of the latch will be united andbe oper:` 1";

ated together with the same effect as if they were of one piece. In this position of the parts the lock is arranged to act as a common mortise-latch.

Y key-hole, To open the door a key-bit, Fig. 5,

is inserted, the face of which is cut to correspond with the arrangementofthe1evers,where by thev several levers are raised and the two parts of the latch are united. By simply turning the knob of the door the latch will be Withdrawn, the several levers riding on the edge of the key-bit.

In order to prevent the door from being easily picked from the outside by the introduction of an instrument other than the true key, I affix to the bottoin surfaces of each of the 1evers, in front of the key-hole, proj eeting pieces i of varying widths, which, as the latch is drawn back, will obstruct the key-hole unless there be used a true key provided with Wards to allow the sanne to pass.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Constructing the latch B of a door-lock in two parts, land D, as described, which can be united or disconneted at pleasure to serve the purposes of a latch or of a bolt, as desired, and operated in the manner and on the principle as herein specified.

2. The combination ofthe cam-wheel or tumblerg with the connecting links or levers, substantially as described, for the purposes specihed.

HENRY B. TYLER.

Witnesses:

JAs. S. HoWE, GEO. H. SPAULDING. 

